Northwestern University

'Tunable' metal nanostructures for fuel cells, batteries, solar energy

Chemists have now developed a way to make porous metal films with up to 1,000 times the electrical conductivity offered by previous methods.

Better batteries

Imagine a cellphone battery that stayed charged for more than a week and recharged in just 15 minutes. That dream battery could be closer to reality thanks to Northwestern University research.

Could a computer one day rewire itself?

Scientists develop new nanomaterial that steers current in multiple dimensions.

Smart skin powered by solar cells

Engineers have developed a device platform that combines electronic components for sensing, medical diagnostics, communications and human-machine interfaces, all on an ultrathin skin-like patch that mounts directly onto the skin and is powered by solar cells.

Smart skin: Electronics that stick and stretch like a temporary tattoo

An ultrathin, electronic patch with the mechanics of skin, applied to the wrist for EMG and other measurements.

Stretchable electronics technology with standard endocardial balloon

Stretchable balloon electronics get to the heart of cardiac medicine

New approach to thermoelectric energy harvesting

We have waited 20 years for Automotive Thermoelectric Generators to be deployed in production vehicles but we may not have much longer to wait because they are more useful in hybrid vehicles than in conventional vehicles.

Making a point

Northwestern researchers have developed an innovative method for printing nanostructures using hard, sharp "pen" tips that float on soft polymer springs. The technique quickly and inexpensively produces patterns of high quality and with high resolution and density.

Breakthrough in converting waste heat to energy

Researchers at Northwestern University have placed nanocrystals of rock salt into lead telluride, creating a material that can harness electricity from heat-generating items such as vehicle exhaust systems, industrial processes and equipment and sun light more efficiently than scientists have seen in the past.

Newly discovered phase helps further thermoelectrics

Scientists have discovered that a class of materials known to convert heat to electricity and vice versa behaves quite unexpectedly at the nanoscale in response to changes in temperature.

Geckos inspire new method to print electronics on complex surfaces

Geckos are masters at sticking to surfaces of all kinds and easily unsticking themselves, too. Inspired by these lizards, a team of engineers has developed a reversible adhesion method for printing electronics on a variety of tricky surfaces such as clothes, plastic and leather.

Flexible electronics treating abnormal heart rhythms

Arrhythmic hearts soon may beat in time again, with minimal surgical invasion, thanks to flexible electronics technology.

Stanford-led research helps overcome barrier for organic electronics

Electronic devices can't work well unless all of the transistors, or switches, within them allow electrical current to flow easily when they are turned on. A team of engineers has determined why some transistors made of organic crystals don't perform well, yielding ideas about how to make them work better.

Printing silicon in South Africa - Part one

The engine of the new printed electronics will be printed transistors on flexible substrates that can be one tenth to one hundredth of the cost of those in simple silicon chips.

Positive results with n-type organic polymer semiconductors

Polyera and BASF Future Business GmbH have invented a novel n-type organic polymer semiconductor with high mobilities (greater than 0.5) and robust processability.

Researchers make new electronics - with a twist

Researchers at Northwestern University and the University of Illinois have created electronics that can be twisted.

Scientists create imaging device based on the human eye

some of the most compelling areas of future application involve the intimate, conformal integration of electronics with the human body in ways that are inconceivable using established technology.

Scientists create stretchable silicon circuits

Scientists have developed a new form of stretchable silicon integrated circuit that can wrap around complex shapes.

Graphene - highest mobility and processable

Chemists and physicists are hard at work developing production processes for graphene - one day it may even be printable.

Transparent Transistors to Bring Future Displays

Researchers claim to have created the first prototype of a new design for semiconductors, devices in which transparent electronics are built on top of a flexible transparent base.